Yang Hao remained silent, as did the several Saint Domain experts. They were too stunned to utter a word. When the divine dragon appeared in the sky, projecting immense power, all the top experts were left speechless with shock.
It was a realm beyond their imagination, a move that transcended the peak of their understanding.
This sword technique was neither created by the Creator God nor by any divine race. It was originally devised by an ordinary swordsman who had once comprehended the Divine Dragon Sword Technique.
From that moment on, he became a completely different person. He became invincible across the land and eventually unified all cultivators.
This individual was known as the Supreme.
After his ascension, he left behind this sword technique.
Yang Hao had seen it twice before, both times performed by members of the Wang family.
Unfortunately, the Wang family members had learned only the sword movements, not the forms, the intent, or the most difficult heart techniques passed down by the Supreme.
But now, things were different.
The one wielding this sword was the Supreme’s direct disciple, the strongest among the elders. Moreover, he was empowered by three divine treasures and countless magical artifacts.
Even more alarming, Wu Yi was using his own life force to push his power to a true peak.
Perhaps even beyond it.
“He used this sword move and flattened our eight sects back then,” Hun Yuan Zi’s voice was filled with despair. “This time, it won’t be much different. Not much different at all.”
“Could it be…” Hertz suddenly realized. “He wants to kill all of us with this one move?”
His words jolted everyone from their shock.
What was a comeback if not this? Even cornered, as long as this sword move existed, there was always a chance to turn the tide. It was the Supreme’s ultimate secret, the final safeguard.
Just for his own physical body, he not only wiped out all cultivators in the universe, but also set up the Ten Sword Formation, the Senate, and the Thunder Seal Barrier, even leaving behind the Divine Dragon Sword Technique.
Such intricate schemes truly befitted the greatest strategist of a thousand years ago.
The Heroic Emperor watched the divine dragon streak across the sky. His heavy sword had already lowered. It was too late to retreat now. He turned to look at Yang Hao.
Indeed, Yang Hao moved.
He had been waiting for this moment. Or rather, Hun Yuan Zi had been waiting for this moment. A thousand years ago, his hatred stemmed from losing to the Divine Dragon Sword Technique.
A thousand years later, Hun Yuan Zi’s disciple and the Supreme’s disciple would reignite their feud in a decisive battle.
This would settle a thousand years of grievances.
Yang Hao carefully retrieved a small ember from his dān náng (a pouch for storing pills or treasures). Wrapped in his qi, it would not extinguish easily. As this ember, no larger than a fingernail, was taken out, the surrounding people immediately felt an intense heat, as if standing at the mouth of a volcano; even the oxygen in the air seemed to thin.
Yang Hao held it—a tiny bit of Primordial Flame he had brought from the Divine Edict, the remainder after his cultivation of Shadow Moon.
Besides being a divine flame for forging, the Primordial Flame had another significant use.
It could provide Yang Hao with enough energy to unleash the ultimate fire sword move of the Dan Ding Sect, the only sword technique in the world capable of rivaling the Divine Dragon Sword.
As Hun Yuan Zi muttered incantations, Yang Hao swallowed the Primordial Flame.
Instantly, his entire body turned red, a fiery crimson.
With his current abilities, Yang Hao could not normally refine the Primordial Flame. If mishandled, it could even consume his spirit, burning it to ashes. Fortunately, Yang Hao had mastered the Essence of Fire, making him immune to any flame in the world.
Thus, the Primordial Flame’s energy could fully reside within Yang Hao’s body.
The Primordial Flame’s energy surrounded Yang Hao. Unconsciously, he began chanting an ancient fire god’s song. In that moment, he became the heir of Zhurong.
Like a ball of fire, Yang Hao soared into the air. In his left hand was Shadow Moon, in his right the Zhurong Bow, but even this was not enough—far from enough.
His opponent wielded the Supreme’s strongest sword move, supported by three divine treasures and hundreds of magical artifacts.
Hertz realized this first and shouted, “Divine treasures!! Divine treasures!!!”
He threw his sword, Golden Severance, high into the air, sending it flying toward Yang Hao.
The Heroic Emperor and Feng Feng also tossed their weapons to Yang Hao.
Though not divine treasures, these weapons had been cultivated for years, their power unquestionable.
But what truly empowered Yang Hao was the Dan Ding Sect’s prior preparation.
When the Ten Sword Formation’s master saw Yang Hao preparing for a decisive strike, he threw six of the sect’s sacred swords into the air. Lan Ling drew four of her personal divine swords and hurled them toward Yang Hao. Xie Feng Ting, unwilling to be left behind, finally revealed the small dagger hidden in his palm, a crystal-clear blade as short as a finger.
Thus, Yang Hao was surrounded by thirteen divine treasures and numerous protective artifacts thrown by swordsmen.
Thirteen divine treasures plus the Senate’s three treasures—nearly all known divine treasures were now gathered. Just in terms of numbers, Yang Hao had an overwhelming advantage.
More importantly, since the Supreme passed down the Ten Sword Formation, the ten divine swords left by the Creator God had never been united. This was the first time since the divine race was sealed, a rare opportunity for the ten swords to reunite and unleash their combined power.
Yang Hao’s sword was drawn. He became a towering god of flame. The flame dragon before him was but a tiny serpent crawling and spreading across his body. In his hand was the Supreme Flame Sword, which he fiercely swung toward the divine dragon in the sky.
Yang Hao now wielded the Dan Ding Sect’s ultimate sword move, a technique Hun Yuan Zi had never mastered. It was called “Supreme Flame Sword!”
Every member of the Dan Ding Sect must remember this name.
This sword move was once hailed as the strongest and unbeatable in history. Even after the Divine Dragon Sword Technique emerged, sweeping away eight sects, the Supreme Flame Sword was still considered the only move capable of rivaling it.
Yet they had never truly clashed, as Hun Yuan Zi had never mastered it.
Now, his disciple stood for the Dan Ding Sect’s ancestors, wielding the Supreme Flame Sword against Wu Yi’s divine dragon.
The divine dragon, born from the universe’s greatest sword technique, was struck by Yang Hao’s blade. Wu Yi cried out in pain, his spiritual light leaking from his body.
Yang Hao did not relent, roaring, “I slash! I slash! I’ll cut off that snake’s head!!!”
His Supreme Flame Sword had absorbed the power of over a dozen divine treasures, especially the ten swords originally part of a set. The Supreme had split them for safekeeping, but now united, they radiated a brilliance surpassing other treasures. A seven-colored beam shot vertically into the sky.
Wu Yi’s Divine Dragon Sword could not withstand Yang Hao, relying only on three divine treasures for defense. The ten sacred swords struck the Divine Light Staff and Holy Light Shield, causing them to erupt with holy light merging with the swords’ glow.
Above the Dan Ding Sect’s cave dwelling, a lotus-shaped crystal light appeared.
Yang Hao paid no heed to any miracles. Summoning his remaining courage, he swung the Supreme Flame Sword at Wu Yi with all his might.
Brute force transformed into an arc of light, striking Wu Yi and revealing his true form. The white-robed elder spat rainbow-colored blood and plummeted like a stone.
From the elders’ formation came cries of alarm.
Everyone could see it clearly—Wu Yi had been defeated, even the Supreme’s divine treasures and the Divine Dragon Sword had succumbed to Yang Hao.
Yang Hao was invincible, immortal, like his white cape billowing high in the sky, advancing relentlessly, never retreating, never failing.
The Supreme Flame Sword’s blazing flame had not yet subsided. Following Wu Yi’s descent, it aimed to unleash its final power, wiping out the remaining elders in one fell swoop.
A single sword strike to eliminate all elders would become an eternal legend in the universe.
The massive divine sword, trailing long flames, descended like divine punishment from the sky. Over two hundred elders and seven executives closed their eyes.
They had no strength or courage left to fight.
Today, the Senate had lost its wings, its treasures destroyed, half its forces lost, with enemies encircling outside, while their own side lacked even the strength to defend.
The elders’ spirits were utterly broken. Before Yang Hao’s overwhelming sword strike, they lacked even the courage to resist.
If even the Supreme’s Divine Dragon Sword had fallen, what more could they do?
Thus, hundreds of elders stood helpless, waiting for Yang Hao’s sword to fall.
The sky burned with intense heat, so scorching it seemed to ignite hair. Yet the elders waited in vain for death.
A bold one dared to look up and witnessed an unbelievable sight.
Yang Hao’s colossal sword was about to strike, but the ten divine swords among the treasures emitted beams of light directly into the Dan Ding Sect’s cave dwelling, seemingly resonating with the lotus-shaped glow above.
As Yang Hao’s sword descended upon the elders, a snow-white hand suddenly emerged from the cave dwelling, gripping the giant sword.
“Chi chi!”
Two piercing sounds rang out.
Without even turning his head, Yang Hao was repelled backward. The Supreme Flame Sword vanished instantly in midair. A frigid breeze blew from the cave dwelling, sweeping away all heat.
The once unstoppable Yang Hao now seemed to suffer an unprecedented blow, spitting a mouthful of blood and falling back to his side.
Everyone was stunned.
Their gazes turned again to the Dan Ding Sect’s cave dwelling, but the white hand had vanished, leaving the entrance blank. Had Yang Hao not already collapsed, they might have thought they had imagined it.
Yet the celestial phenomenon in the sky grew more pronounced.
The ten divine swords’ combined light merged with the lotus-shaped glow atop the cave dwelling, forming a curtain-like beam of light resembling a heavenly rift.
Inside the cave dwelling, a physical body traversed the entire mountain, uniting with the sacred light in the sky.
The ascended divine soul finally reunited with the body preserved for centuries.
In this magnificent, radiant curtain, a figure slowly descended.
He pointed one finger to the heavens, the other to the earth.
His white hair cascaded to his waist, yet his face was youthful and ruddy. A compassionate smile graced his face, but his eyes held disdain for the mortal world.
Countless white clouds swirled around him, and all the light had transformed into a crystalline substance, enhancing his sanctity.
So transcendent, so peerless was his presence that all who beheld him were deeply awed, as if their souls had left their bodies.
Several elder executives stared in stunned silence before someone finally reacted. Though severely injured, Wu Yi was the Supreme’s direct disciple. He wailed and knelt, crying out, “Master! Master!!”
The other elders also knelt, weeping loudly, “Master!!!”
“Greetings to the Master’s return from ascension!”
The remaining two hundred plus elders, though some had never seen him, guessed the figure in the sky was the Senate’s sole revered Master, the only god in the current universe.
The elders prostrated themselves, shouting fervently, “The Supreme grants us strength! The Supreme grants us power! The Supreme grants us strength! The Supreme grants us power!!”
Suddenly, the mountain echoed with their cries. The courage they had lost moments ago surged back.
The Supreme merely glanced at the elders, saying nothing. Radiating brilliant light, his expression was solemn yet cold as he slowly turned his gaze toward Yang Hao’s side.
“You…” The Supreme’s voice drifted down from the sky, elegant and clear. “Are you the rebels?”
Below, silence reigned. Even the mighty Heroic Emperor dared not answer the Supreme’s question.
“Anyone who opposes me is a rebel,” the Supreme said calmly, raising his hand. “Rebels shall enter the Dark Prison, never to be reborn.”
This was the judgment.
With a wave of the Supreme’s hand, a tangible white light descended from the sky. This light originated from the Divine Realm, countless thin threads of divine radiance raining down like a storm.
On the Heroic Emperor’s side, it was as if they had fallen into a real prison.
A light, pure and absolute, fell from the heavens, capable of cleansing all darkness and filth, yet it was directed to strip away the rebels’ lives.
Wherever the Supreme pointed, people screamed and died, their bodies, souls, and spirits evaporating under the divine radiance.
No one had the chance to resist. Against the Supreme’s immense power, all resistance was futile.
The Supreme’s expressionless, solemn yet compassionate eyes watched thousands, then tens of thousands perish in the divine light. This was an ocean of death, an ocean of judgment.
The universe’s strongest martial power was gathered here today. The Senate had been pushed to the brink, yet even such power was weaker than a willow before the One God.
He needed no battle; merely shining his light, when the Supreme wished someone dead, they would die.
This was a power no human could resist, a force no Saint Domain expert could comprehend.
After the Supreme pointed his finger five times,
The people on the Elder Mountain were nearly wiped out. The previous vibrant life, the proudly waving banners, and the heroic aspirations had vanished, leaving only emptiness.
The Merchant Guild’s forty sword master groups were completely annihilated. Tens of thousands left no corpses.
The Ten Sword Formation’s thousands of swordsmen, along with six clan leaders—the accumulated strength of the ten sword sects over centuries—were also completely wiped out, their leaders reduced to dust.
The Imperial Guard’s dozens of sword master groups and several thousand black-armored warriors were entirely annihilated, their armor littering the mountain cliffs.
Even the Dragon Blessing Legion and the five hundred Saint Domain Qianlong (hidden dragons) were reduced by half under the Supreme’s power. The survivors desperately dodged the divine radiance, their lives hanging by a thread.
At this point, it was no longer a day of bloodshed. True death had nothing to do with blood.
It was the living people, the warriors who had fought beside them moments ago, suddenly robbed of life, vanishing entirely from this world.
Yang Hao struggled to rise. He saw the merchant swordsmen dying, the clan leaders of the Ten Sword Formation meeting their end with terrified and desperate gazes. He saw the fury of the Qianlong and the destruction of the Hao Sword Corps, their dying stares fixed upon him.
“He… has returned…” Hun Yuan Zi finally found the strength to speak, but could say no more.
A thousand years ago, when Hun Yuan Zi summoned heavenly tribulation to avenge the Supreme, the Supreme was still a newly ascended immortal, possessing divine power but not yet the immense strength he now wielded.
Now, judging from the solid, crystalline halos surrounding the Supreme, he had transcended the Immortal Ascension realm, far beyond what even a Saint Domain peak like Yang Hao could oppose.
Today’s battle was already lost.
Yang Hao gripped the Zhurong Bow, fully aware that today was a gamble. Yang Hao’s side had a slightly better chance. When both sides exhausted their aces, the Senate had no chance of recovery.
Yet, the least expected scenario occurred.
After years of wandering like an immortal, leaving no trace or news behind, everyone presumed that the Supreme had perished.
But now, he had returned.
And he had become an Immortal Ascension.
Immortal, Immortal Ascension, Golden Immortal—these corresponded to lower, middle, and upper divine races. The Supreme now possessed middle divine race power. More terrifyingly, in this universe, all gods were restricted by barriers, but only the Supreme could wield full divine power.
He was invincible, supreme, nearly without equal.
Yang Hao gazed at the Supreme’s divine radiance, despair overwhelming him. Watching his loved ones and friends die, his heart felt hollow.
At this moment, Yang Hao finally understood Hun Yuan Zi’s thousand-year-old emotions. Witnessing beloved ones die beside him was utterly devastating.
Yang Hao turned and saw the Heroic Emperor still proudly raising his broadsword.
“Qin Feng!” the Heroic Emperor roared.
“Present!” Feng Feng’s hands had already drawn from his sleeves, a faint smile on his face.
“We killed together in our youth. What about today?” the Heroic Emperor laughed. “Today, we have another chance.”
“Never thought… we’d return to the battlefield of our youth.” Feng Feng rubbed his hands, a black aura enveloping him and the Heroic Emperor.
The Heroic Emperor charged first, leading Qin Feng toward the radiant, godlike Supreme in the sky.
Yang Hao said nothing, but a surge of hot blood coursed through him.
The Heroic Emperor and Qin Feng, two lonely figures, appeared starkly dark against the brilliant light, like sunspots—small and powerless.
But now, they would not retreat.
Seated on his throne, the Heroic Emperor Jia Ran had transformed from a dashing young swordsman to a calculating old man. His ambition was worn away, his sword no longer sharp.
But today, the Heroic Emperor understood—this was his final moment.
If this was a gamble, both the Heroic Emperor and Yang Hao had bet everything.
With the Supreme’s appearance, they had lost—utterly.
No more pros and cons for the Heroic Emperor to weigh. He had lost everything, the only things remaining were his sword and his brothers.
Qin Feng followed like a shadow.
“I won’t go to prison! Who will?!” the Heroic Emperor roared, thrusting his sword into the Supreme’s protective light. “My long sword is still in hand!!”
“My long sword is still in hand!!!”
In an instant, the Heroic Emperor Jia Ran and Qin Feng were dissolved by the Supreme’s seven-colored radiance.
The death of heroes is always so simple.
Suddenly, from the other side of the cave dwelling, a graceful figure leaped forth.
“Father!!” Princess Xian Lan watched helplessly as the Heroic Emperor met his end, tears streaming down her face. Trapped in a space beside the cave dwelling by Elder Rong Li, she could only emerge after the Thunder Seal Barrier was broken.
But the moment she emerged, she witnessed this heart-wrenching scene.
Xian Lan’s heart truly shattered. Almost everyone believed her a royal traitor, helping the elders. But only Xian Lan knew her true motive—her love for her father. She did not want her father to die at the Senate’s hands, so she endured humiliation to become a seductress.
But now, everything was over. All her previous efforts were in vain.
Xian Lan’s eyes were red and swollen, her enchanting beauty faded. She floated in the air, casting a lonely glance at Elder Rong Li. In Rong Li’s eyes, Xian Lan saw many things.
But this woman resolutely shook her head and turned, hurling herself toward the Supreme’s body.
With almost no force, she collided with the Supreme’s radiance.
“Xian Lan!!” Rong Li screamed.
But it was too late. The Milky Way Empire’s enchanting princess, the cunning beauty cultivated by the Senate for years, evaporated into nothingness under the Supreme’s holy light.
Yang Hao witnessed everything.
His blood in his veins nearly turned to fire. In his hand, the Flame-Fusing Bow began to emit furious flames.
“Yang Hao!!” Hertz blocked his path. The old bear knew exactly what Yang Hao intended. “It’s over. Everything is over. Leave now!”
Yang Hao’s face was calm. “You take everyone, return to the Divine Elm Autonomous Territory. Our spaceships are sufficient.”
Although determined to win today, Yang Hao had prepared escape spacecraft beforehand, a precaution he now found necessary.
“And you?” Hertz asked.
“I’ll cover your retreat.” Yang Hao looked up. The Supreme’s divine punishment was not yet finished. More radiant beams fell like rain. Without someone to hold them back, the remaining people on the mountain could not escape.
“Leave together!!” Long Yun, Xie Feng Ting, and Lan Ling gathered around. “We won’t leave you alone.”
“Leave! All of you!!” Yang Hao suddenly roared. “This has always been a grudge of the Dan Ding Sect. It has nothing to do with you. Get out!!”
“Yang Hao!” Long Yun also roared. “We are your brothers. We will never leave you alone.”
“I must stay, or none can escape!” Yang Hao coldly faced Hertz. “Old bear, take them and flee immediately. Perhaps one day you can avenge me.”
“But!” Hertz tried to protest.
Yang Hao gripped the Flame-Fusion Bow, soared into the air, and ignored their shouts. He clearly understood that the strength they had accumulated was now depleted after the arrival of the Supreme.
Even the Heroic Emperor and Qin Feng had perished, nearly extinguishing the old sword saint’s lineage.
If they did not act decisively now, even the last remnants might be lost.
Now, over two hundred Saint Domain潜龙 remained in the Hidden Dragon Pavilion, and the Dragon Blessing Legion and Dan Ding Sword Sect each had half their forces left. More importantly, the key people around Yang Hao were unharmed.
As long as they returned to the Divine Edict, they at least had the means to protect themselves.
Thus, Yang Hao must stay. Only by staying and holding off the Supreme could he provide an escape opportunity for others.
Hertz stared at Yang Hao drifting toward the Supreme, his once-youthful hair now mostly white. Finally, Hertz swung his axe and roared, “Leave!! Everyone follow me!!!”
Golden Severance sliced through the air, creating a wormhole. The black glow rotated with the glow of time and space.
Long Yun and Xie Feng Ting, their eyes red, watched as Yang Hao was already drawing the Flame-Fusing Bow in midair, completely drawing the Supreme’s attention. They knew that Yang Hao was sacrificing his life to create an escape opportunity for them.
These few finally ceased hesitating, rallying all the潜龙, the remaining Dan Ding Sect members, and dove into the black hole.
As Hertz entered the black hole last and erased the time-space traces with one axe swing, Yang Hao’s black flame arrow was flying toward the Supreme’s face.
This was the second time in nearly a thousand years someone had dared such a disrespectful act against the Supreme.
The first time was also by Yang Hao in the cave dwelling, attempting to assassinate the Supreme’s physical body. This time, it was a direct assassination attempt.
Yang Hao’s flame arrow turned pitch black. This fierce flame, known as “xiōng yàn,” could only be wielded by someone who had grasped the Essence of Fire. As Yang Hao chanted the ancient fire song,
The flame grew thick and long, overbearing beyond compare.
This rocket had once required four elder executives to barely withstand, each suffering greatly. This rocket had seriously wounded the Ghost Elder and even killed the Tian Ce Elder with one shot.
The world’s most powerful divine treasure, combined with the Essence of Fire, made this arrow Yang Hao’s strongest weapon.
But the Supreme merely extended an exquisitely jade-like hand, lightly flicking the rocket. All malevolent flames instantly dissipated. The arrow was effortlessly swatted away. The gap between gods and mortals was as vast as a chasm.
Yet the Supreme’s gaze still turned toward Yang Hao. Yang Hao’s attack was far stronger than others, strong enough for the Supreme to consider him surpassing his own elders.
“You?” The Supreme remained still but suddenly found himself face-to-face with Yang Hao. “This is the Flame-Fusion Bow?”
Yang Hao was startled by the Supreme’s sudden appearance but had no time to retreat.
The Supreme reached out, grabbing the Flame-Fusion Bow. Yang Hao forcefully expelled his true qi, a fierce flame surging toward the Supreme’s wrist. Yet within the holy light, the fierce flame was as docile as the tamest insect.
The Supreme used no tricks, simply pulling hard. Yang Hao’s tightly gripped Flame-Fusion Bow was wrested away.
“Indeed, the Yan Rong Bow!” The Supreme’s eyes glowed with an unusual light. He pointed at the bow and rubbed it. Instantly, Yang Hao felt a piercing pain in his heart, as if the bond between him and the bow had been abruptly severed.
Zhurong wailed within the bow but, in the Supreme’s stronger grip, could only resign.
Yang Hao endured the excruciating pain in his dantian, glancing around to see his people had already fled. The Elder Mountain was empty, the fallen warriors’ corpses long evaporated by the holy light. Nothing remained but barren earth.
Yang Hao wanted to flee too. Though brave, he wasn’t foolish enough to die like the Heroic Emperor.
But he was too late. The Supreme had already grasped the Flame-Fusion Bow, turning his gaze back to Yang Hao.
More accurately, to Yang Hao’s dantian, and the thing within.
“Hun Yuan Zi!” The Supreme actually changed expression, a rare occurrence. “He’s still alive?”
No wonder the Supreme reacted so strongly. The experts of his era had long been sealed or perished. To encounter a mortal enemy now was nothing short of a miracle.
Yang Hao did not reply, instead turning and using the Light Stream Shadow Step.
Preposterous! Hun Yuan Zi and the Supreme were old enemies. If captured, the old man’s thousand-year life would surely end.
The Supreme would not allow Yang Hao to escape. With a wave of his hand, the Light Flow Shadow Treading technique instantly failed.
Light flows and shadows move under controlled space, a specialty of the gods. In terms of spatial manipulation, the Supreme was far superior to Yang Hao.
“You’re really alive? Old friend!” The Supreme’s expression was strange. His gaze at Yang Hao’s dantian was almost joyful.
Then he struck ruthlessly, extending both hands to tear open Yang Hao’s dantian, extracting Hun Yuan Zi’s soul.
As Yang Hao was attacked, Shadow Moon immediately emerged to protect its master. But the Supreme merely pointed, and the divine treasure could advance no further, only whimpering in the air.
Now, Yang Hao was truly helpless. Completely under the Supreme’s control, he could only watch helplessly as those fingers approached his lower body in a lewd manner.
“Damn it! What kind of Supreme! He’s just a perverted old man!!” Yang Hao, unfazed by danger, raged. “If you want to kill me, just do it! Why grope me down there?”
The Supreme glanced at him, seemingly deeming Yang Hao unworthy, yet condescendingly replied, “Kid, you do have loyalty, protecting him even at death’s door! If you hadn’t joined the Dan Ding Sect, I might have taken you into the Senate.”
“Pfft!” Yang Hao scoffed. He gathered all his true qi, pushing the Essence of Fire to its peak.
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